The Portland daily press., 1887-07-06

Those present were his sister, Mrs. Black
well, his daughter, Mrs. G. w. Goddard, and
Mrs. HuntoOn, his grandson, AnsOn NJ. God
dard, Esq, and a granddaughter. His
daughter, Mrs. r. NJ. Mills, Is on her way
from California to Augusta. The body will
be embalmed, and the funeral will occur
Thursday at 11.3O a. IN. Rev. Mr.. Whitman,
pastor Of the Winthrop street UniveIsalist
church, Of which Mr.. Morrill, was a member,
viii oficiate.
Anson p. Morrill,, sixteenth Governor of
Maine. was born in Belgrade, June 10, 1906
His father, Peaslee Morrill,. was a farmer
His mothers maiden name was Macomber.
She was only fourteen years old when mar
ried, and she had fourteen children. Mr.
| Morrill, died in 1855, at an advanced age, and
Mrs. Morrill, in 1859, at the age Of 76
Anson's early advantages we're few He
was born TO hard work. His education
was obtained in the town schools and the
town academy. lie started In life as a school
| teacher, teaching first in Mirimiehi, In the
Province Of New Brunswick. His capacity
for public affairs was soon recognized by his
towns people, and in 1921 he represented
DOibAaaJ III LlAg pOpuldL UIdutn Oh Tic state
Legislature. Soon after this date he remov-
ed TO Madison, in the county Of Somerset,
where he kept a country store. In 1880, Gov.
| Fairfield appointed him sheriff Of the county
He held the Office until the Democratic over
throw in 1879, when Edward Kent, the Wing
candidate, was elected Governor, and
| Whig appointed to succeed him. A year lat
er, when the Democrats returned to power,
Mr.. Morrill, was again rendered the Office,
but declined. In 1872 he represented Madi-
son and Norridgewock in the House. About
this time he, with others, purchased the old
Readdeld woolen mill, and removed TO that
town. The concern was in forlorn condl-
| tiOn when he took hold Of It, bat under his
capable management it grew and prospered.
He was presidsnt Of the company and gener-
al manager. When the war came 1t was In a
condition to take advantage Of the boom In
prices and became exceedingly profitable
Mr.. Morrill, was brought up a Democrat,
and for manv years was prominent In the
| councils Of tnat party. During the year Inn
mediately preceding the breaking up Of that
organization he acted with the progressive
| wing which was hostile 10 the extension OF
| slavery and in favor OF temperance legisla-
| ti0n. In 1850 he was appointed land agent
| pOrtant offices In the State. Gov. Hubbard
/ belonged 70 the progressive wing Of his
/ party and had incurred the disDleasure Of
/ the oOurbOns bv approving tie prOhibit0ry
/ LIQUOR bill thai had been passed by the
/ Wings and free-sOilers Of the Legislature Of
1851. He was renominated in 1852, but the rum
/ men bOlted and nominated an independent
candidate. The result was no election by the
people and the choice Of w. g. Crosby BY
/ the Legislature. In 1858 the leading issue In
i the Demoer9tie State Gouvauffau was fhp
| prohibltory law. Its enemies prevailed and
/ a candidate was nominated opposed to the
| law and on a platform Of hostility 10 il.
| There was revolt, and Mr.. Morrill, led II,
| becoming the Maine law candidate for Gov
| ernor. There were four candidates in the
/ field. The regular Democratic candidate
| was Albert Pillsbury, the Whig William q.
| Crosby. the Free Soil Ezekiel Holmes, and the
Maine Law Anson Z. Morrill,. The contest
/ was very exciting. There was no choice by the
/ people and the election was thrown into the
| Legislature where Gov. William G.. Crosby,
| the Wing candidate, was chosen by q
majority Of one in the Senate. the pext
| year Mr.. morrill, was again a candidate.
| This was the year Immediately following the
Kansas-Nebraska legislation and the repeal
/ of the Missouri compromise. The subserv-
ieney Of the Democratic party to the slavery
| propaganda had disgnsted many Democrats
/ in Maine, as well as in the other Northern
/ States. To Mr.. MOrrilPs standard fOcked
these men, and also those anti-slavery Wings
| who felt that their own party was near its
end and that the time had come to make a
stand against the encroaohments Of the
| slave power The Free Sellers dropped their
organization this year and supported Mr..
| Morrill,. The year before MIR. Morrill, re-
/ ceived 1900 votes. This year he received
44,5j5, 1900 more than any Of the other can
dates. but he lacked majority over all.
| The election was thrown into the iegisla-
ture and Mr.. Morrill, was chosen Governor.
His administration was an admirable one In
| every respect. At a mass State convention
held at Augusta. on the 22d OF February,
1875, the name OF Republicans" was formal
| ly adopted by the Fusionists (as the friends
Of the new administration had heretofore
called themselyes,) at which Gov. Morrill,
/ presidecs and was re-nOminated. This was
the origin Of the Republican party In
Maine. The result Justified the choice.
| and showed how well Gov. Morrill, had sue
ceeded in satisfying the people, for though
he was not elected he received Jl,Ce) votes,
1900 more than the wear before, and Hoo
more than any candidate up 10 that time mad
ever received By coalition Of Democrats
and Wings Judge Wells was elected bv the
legislature. The next year Gov. Morrill, de.
elined fourth nomination, but wit
messed the overwhelming triumph Of the
party in the creation Of which ne was 81
prominent and Of which he remained de-
voted adherent to the day Of his death, guild
ing and directing 1t with his counsel.
While the Republican party was forming
but before he mad been elected Governor
Mr. Morrill, showed how great was his devo.
tlon to the new party, and how far removed
II was from selfishness and personal inter
ests. A Senatorial contest had arisen. The
candidates were William Pitt Fessenden ant
Lot Nj. Morrill,, the Governors younger
brother. MIR. Fessenden was a WINS
and Mr.. Morrill, was then q Democrat Will
anti-slavery tendencies. Mr.. Morrill, wa,
strongly attached to his brother, and w0ult
have made almost any sacrifice 10 make sur,
Of his elevation to the Senate, but the w0rl
10 which he was engaged was q
him him OF vastly greater Importance thai
might nave made his brother Sen
at0r at that time. but Il would have checked
the progress OF the new party. To one who
urged upon.hlm the election Of his brother
he said; Better than anything in tne
world would like to see Lot In the Senate
but when he goes | want him to 90 with
clean papers"
Gov. Morrill, was delegate to the first
National Republican convention and took an
active part IN the ensuing campaign. In 1861
he became a candidate for Congress In the
old kennebec district and was elected by d
large majority. A renOmiDatiOn was tender
ed him two years later but he had not found
the National Congress congenial 90 his taste
anu I-,e declined. About ten years ago Gov
| presented that city In the legislature
| Gov. MOrrillS interest In the railroads Ol
the State should not be forgotten. He nurscc
Names great railroad Of to-day in It's In.
fancy and when IL was In dire financial
straits he pledged his own personal word fOi
| its debts. When the consolidation with ths
| Portland and kennebec was accomplished
Gov. Morrill, became President of the cor
porati0n and filed that office several years
In 1927, Mr.. Morrill, married Rowena w
Richardson, of Belgrade, native Of Attic
horo, Mass, who died in October, 1882, at the
age Of 73
Gov Morrill, leaves two children, Mrs. Ell
lea f.. Mills. wife Of Richard NJ. Mills. ESQ.
Of San Diego. Cal, and Mrs. ROwena d
Goddard, wife Of Hon. G. W. Goddard, o
this city.
Maine has produced few abler men thar
Anson 7. Morrill,. The prominence whicl
he attained In the affairs Of his State wai
due solely to his intellectual strength
and his sturdy, vigorous morality III,
was man Of deep seated convictions, ant
always had the courage % proclaim them
There was no shilly-shallying with him. III
believed In principles and manfully Tough
Tor them. He was frank and outspOken ant
when his views were asked for they were al
ways given in terse and vigorous English
He advocated causes because he believed II
them, not because they might make him pop
ular or rebound 70 his personal credit. Tn
temperance reform early enlisted his sym
pathies, and great deal of its success Is dul
TO his efforts. In the cause Of education h,
was also deeply interested and though
| UniVersalist In belief WAS for many wear,